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Jan 19, 2011

Rav Chaim Kanievsky: Keeping The Law Is A Duty

Mazel tov to Yosef Bondo, the youngest of the three young men who had been caught and convicted as drug mules smuggling drugs, though it was unknown to them at the time, upon receiving a pardon from Shimon Peres, with the approval of the Japanese government. he served time for his crime, and now he can start afresh.

Upon his release Bondo went to Rav Chaim Kanievsky to update him with the news of his release and his plans for the future, and to thank him for his encouragement and continued tefillos throughout the ordeal.

Upon Bondo's release, Rav Chaim Kanievsky said that "keeping the law is not a right, but a duty. When the gemara says "Don't steal from the tax authorities", it is not just giving a suggestion but is stating an obligation." (source: Bechadrei)

I wonder if they even ever told Rav Kanievsky about the fact that he had been carrying drugs, or if they only told him that these boys had been arrested for smuggling "something" for someone else. He didnt say a word, or at least he was not quoted as saying anything, about the fact that they carried drugs and the dangers inherent in drug use and the damage they cause and how they wreak havoc on people, families and communities, just about the obligation to not smuggle in general.

2 comments:

  1. The boys claim was that they thought it was antiques not drugs.
    R. Chaim was saying that even according to their side of the story their actions were inappropriate and contrary to halacha.

    ReplyDelete
  2. R. Kanievsky may have figured that the Bondo had learned his lesson about smuggling or he was too dumb to ever learn it. So he focused on a higher standard, not cheating on taxes which is epidemic in Israel and in haredi communities around the world.

    He may have been sending a signal to his defenders who claimed that the boys were victims.

    ReplyDelete

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